Yard-numbering machine



July 27 1926. 1,594,270

(2. G. RICHARD SON YARD NUMBERING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1923' 4 Sheets-Shoot 1 July 27 1926. v C. G. RICHARDSON YARD NUMBERING MACHINE Filed March 2. 1923 4 Sheets-Shut 2 y T Q. a

\8 \M m MM $3M QQW July 27 1926.

C. G- RICHARDSCN YARD NUMBERING MACHINE -4 Shasta-Shoot 5 Filed March 2. 1923 July 27 1926.

C. G. RICHARDSON YARD NUMBERING MACHINE 4 sheets-shed 1 Filec} March Patented July 27, i926.

Utiillft:

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES RICI-IAEDSON, SPRINGFIELD, VERMGNT, ASSIGNORT-O EARKS & WOOL- SON MACHINE 'CUIEEANY, F SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT; A CORPORATION OF VER- MONT.

YARDJ'H'UMBERING MACHINE.

Application filed. March This invention relates to machines for yard numbering and it desired trade-marking fabrics, and is intended to provide a reliable and etlicient mechanism by which a piece of cloth whether cotton, woolen, silk or other fiber may be accurately and quickly marked at a y desired intervals according to its actual measured length with yard-indieating numerals so that the length to any marked point in the cloth will be accurately and clearly indicated.

Heretoifore the automatic yard-marking of cloth has been effected through the .use of inked dies but the use of such ink is objcctionable .in many cases and does not yield satisfactory results on certain kinds of fabric especially such fabrics as ool-ens or the like.

The present invention affords a rapid means oil yard numliiering all sorts of fabrics in a most satisfactory and accurate manner by the use of continuous strip of tape to which yard-marking stamps, and it desired, other transfer stamps have been applied, and permits a very close and compact arrangement of the stamps on the tape so that a strip or tape of transter stamps, say approximately "live feet in length, may serve to mark each consecutive yard of a 60 yard piece with the appropriate yard numerals to indicate the length from any marked point to the initial end oi? a piece of cloth. Moreover, su'tlicient time is given for pressing each temp to the cloth in order to effect a port transter while the cloth is being rapidly ted through the niacl'iine, thus securing most clearly defined and accurate markings while no time is lost in drying the stamps impressed on the cloth.

To this end, broadly speaking, the in'x' en- 'tion comprises a cloth-n Pasuring drum with which iscooperatively combined means for feeding in consecutive order a progressive series of ard-indicating numerals co n-posed ottra- -r stamps and means for transferrin said stamps to the appropriate portions ot L the ClOLll to indicate on the cloth its correct yard :measurenents to each stamped point from the initial end 015 the cloth. The inrention further comprises other features of construction and arrangement by which the different functions of the mechanism, such feeding the stamp tape, its replenishment, the transfer of the stamp to the 2, 1923. Serial No. 522,419..

appropriate portion of the cloth and the determination of measurement between the stamps applied maybe etlec-tedas well as the provision of appropriate adjustment by which the operations of the machine may be varied to suit different requirements, all of which will be described in detail this xpecification and will be defined the claims hereto annexed.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated a convenient and practical form of machine embodying the principles of this invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a measuring drum equipped with a yard munberiing mechanism.

Figure 1 is a detail view showing the means for locking the .cloth drum section, the revolving head and the fixed head together.

Figure 2 is .a diagrammatic view in side -.elevat.ion illustrating the travel of the yard numbering tape.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section showin the operative mechanisms for feeding the numbering tape and transferring the yard numbers to the fabric at proper distances. V

Figure 4- is a detail View of the transior actuating arm. I

Figure 5 is a horizontal longitudinal sec. tion of the tape winding reel.

Figure 6 is an intermed-iate'cross sectional view thereof.

Figure 7 is a cross section through the measuring dizu-m and through the tape winding reel showing the stamp transfer or pressing mechanism.

Figure 8 is a central cross sectional View of the :tape supply reel.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the travel of the cloth around the measuring drum. v

Figure 10 is a cross sectional View illustrating the -gearing :train for driving the tape feeding mechanism.

Figure ,11 is a cross sectional View of the intermittent actuating mechanism by which the transfer mechanism is moved or actuated.

Figure 12 is a plan view illustrating a yard numbering tape such as .iiskuseol in the machine.

In the present instance I have illustrated the invention as applied to well known type of yard measuring drum which, in this case, comprises a cylindrical shell of say one yard in circumference having a frictional surface for engaging the cloth which passes over and around the greater part of its circumference as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 9.

The cylindrical shell of the cylinder at that portion embracing the principal part of the operating mechanism is shown made in two arcuate sections 1 and 2 with a window or opening at 2 toallow the interior platen or pressure to move upward to hotpress the interposed tape against the under face of the traveling cloth or fabric. The shell is continued toward the right by a cylindrical section 1 of any desired or convenient width,

' the object of sectioning the left hand end enclosing the working mechanism being to afford access to the interior working parts.

The sections 1 and 2 are supported on two main heads or spiders 3 and t which are connected by a main tubular truss 5 which also affords a support for Various parts of the mechanism while forming the backbone of the shell-supporting frame work. On this tubular-truss or backbone 5 are also mounted any convenient number of interior shell-supporting spiders, as shown at 8 and 9 in Figure 3.

It will be understood that all the interior working parts revolve with the drum and are actuated to function at predetermined points in the revolution of the drum, as supplemental tie rods 6 serve to reenforce and tie together the heads or spiders of the frame work above described. The revolving head 3 is mounted on a rotatable hollow shaft 30 carried in suitable hearings in the hub 31 of a fixed or stationary head 32, and

' said shaft 30 is provided with a pair of commutator rings 33 with which are connected the respective conductors 33 which are led to binding posts 83 on the heated bed 54 of the tape presser or platen of the transfer mechanism to be presently described.

The yard numbering tape or strip 100 is usually made of thin tissue paper on which are placed, atclose intervals, the yard numbering marks in the form of transfer stamps, commonly known as decalcomania stamps, which impress the yard numbers successively upon the cloth at regular intervals of one yard or of fractions or multiples of a yard, according to the specific setting up of the machine. In the present case the cloth cylinder 1 is assumed to be a yard in circumference, and the cloth is yard numbered at each consecutive yard so that when the initial end of the cloth is wound on to the bolt the highest yardage number is in the outside fold or turn of the cloth and as different lengths are cut off an inspection of --the outside yard number will always show correctly the individual number of yards remaining in the piece.

Having particular reference first to Figures 1, 2 and 10 I will now describe the mechanism for intermittently feeding the yard numbering tape so that at each revolution of the drum the next consecutive yard numbering stamp is brought into proper position for transfer to the cloth. Generally speaking this mechanism comprises a sprocket driven reel 14: which winds the forward end of the tape on itself by an intermittent movement of a predetermined distance which draws or unwinds the coiled tape from the supply wheel 60.

The mechanism shown is driven by means of the actuating tooth wheel or pinion 21 carried on a rotary shaft 22 which revolves with the drum, the teeth of said pinion engaging spiral ribs Sat on the interior face of the fixed head 32 the direct-ion of the spirals being indicated in dotted lines in Figure 10 as viewed from the interior of the drum. The spirally curved ribs 3 1 are so designed that each cooperating pair of ribs, as they travel across the plane of revolution of the pinion 21, rotate the pinion in a contraclcck-wise direction as viewed in Figure 3. This intermittent rotative movement of the pinion is transmitted to the winding reel 1 1 through a train of change gearing and a sprocket chain, as will now be described.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 10 the actuating pinion 21, mounted on the shaft 22, causes said shaft to rotate by means of a slidable ratchet sleeve 22 which is nor mally spring-pressed by means of the helical spring 23 into operative engagement with the ratchet teeth along the hub of the pinion 21. The object of this ratchet connection to the shaft 22 is to permit, temporarily, the breaking of the operative connec tion bet-ween the drive pinion and the shaft in order to turn the tape-feeding train of gearing and sprocket chain to adjustthe tape to any desired position or, when putting in a new tape, without having to revolve the entire machine.

At the farther end of the shaft 22 is socured a spur gear 2 1 intermeshing with another spur gear 25, which is compounded with gear 26 intermeshing with gear 27 which latter is compounded with the sprocket wheel 28. The sprocket chain 29 passes around said driving sprocket wheel 28. and also around an idler sprocket gear 29 and around the winding reel sprocket 40 in order to actuate the chain according to the intermittent rotation of the actuating pinion 21.

The train of gearing as well as the feedactuating shaft 22 are mounted in a bracket 22 which is secured to the head 3 to revolve therewith, said bracket having an inwardly project-ing boss 22 (Figs. 1 and 10) to which into stamp-transferring or pressing position by means of the rock-shaft 72 whose opposite ends are supported in br ckets 70, 71, clamped to the truss rod 5, said rock-sl aft passing through openings in the intermediate spiders 8. On this roe r--'iaft 72 is secured a hub 55 carrying a laterally projecting arm terminating in ball head 56, which is loosely held in a recess or socket in the platen arm at by means of a recessed or socketed retaining plate 53 (Fig. l). This recess is intermediate of the i'ulci'al pin 51 of the platen. lhe cooperating pressing or transfer member comprises a plate 57 carried by aarallel arms 57 which are fulcrumed on pivots 57 carried by the U-shaped bracket 22 previously described. An actuating link 58 forms a pivotal link connection between a projection 5S on the platen arm 53 and the outer end of the arm or lever 57 so that, as the platen moves outward to pressing position, the link moves the outer end of the lever 57 outwardly thus swinging the arms 57 upon their pivots 5-7, the parts being so proportioned that when the platen is out of operative position, that is depressed toward t is center of the drum, the presser plate 57 is swung entirely clear of the cloth drum 1, so as not to overhang its periphery at all, that is, the plate 5'? stands in an approximately vertical plane. The action of the two pressers in substance resembles that of a pair of shears or tongs which are normally open but which swing toward each other to grip or pinch together the interposed cloth and tape. It will be observed that as both presser elements revolve uniformly with the drum and with the travel of the cloth no time is lost in the pressing operation and the presser elements may be kept under pressure through any desired arc of revolution to effect a perfect transfer of the stamp to the cloth.

Now it will be seen that the number or frequency of the tape-feeding movements may be regulated by substituting diiterent cam plates 32 at the head of the drum for actuating the pinion 21 since di'llerent plates may be arranged with different numbers of spiral actuating ribs or with spiral ribs arranged at different intervals around the periphery to act with greater or less frequency. It will also be seen that the distance the tape is fed on each feeding operation may be varied by changing the gear rains leading to the chain driving sprocket. However, if the number of feeding movements of the tape is varied then it will be clear that the operation of the transfer mechanism or stamppressing devices should be correspondingly varied and the mechanism which is provided for actuating the stamp transferring devices is constructed to allow similar flexibility in its adjustments.

As shown at the right of Figure 8, and

also in Figure 11 the rock-shaft 72 is provided with a crank arm 73 carrying a cam roller 73 which is engaged by a cam 80 which is revolved intermittently through the agency of a sprocket chain 81, which passes partly around a central sprocket 81 which is secured to a fix d or non-rotating spindle 81. The sprocket chain 81 is also passed around sprocket gears 82, 82 and 82 in the manner shown in Figure 11 which last mentioned sprocket gears are carried by revolving spider a so that the entire sprocket chain revolves around the fixed sprocket wheel 81 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 11. The efl'ect of this is substantially the same as if the chain were mounted 011 a non-revolving support and the sprocket gear 81 rotated in the direction opposite to the revolution of the drum.

At intervals along said sprocket chain, which may be varied in order to accomplish the desired periodicity of movement, are arranged laterally projecting pins 83 which pins are arranged to engage the under flattened side of flattened disk-like arms 84tarranged on opposite sides of the sprocket wheel 82, both said disks 84 being compounded to form a single rotatable unit with the cam 80. The sprocket gear 82 is loose on the spindle 85 so that the cam 80, which actuates the rock-shaft 82, is rotated only when the projecting pins 83 engage the fiat faces of the disks 84. The object of this mechanism is to give an intermittent rotation of the rock-shaft to actuate the stamp-transfer pressers at any desired periodicity t0 efi ect the stamping of the cloth at any desired intervals whether at one yard intervals, half yard or quarter yard intervals, yard and a half or two yard intervals to suit any particular requirements.

The tape-supplying reel 60 may be of any suitable construction and in this case is made to fit different widths of tape and to be rotated under a frictionally retarded drag so as to avoid paying out slack of tape as it unwinds from the reel. A bracket 61 is clamped to the main truss 5 to form a support for the solid arbor 62 which is adjustably'clamped in the bracket 61 by means of the thumb screw 61. Loosely surrounding said arbor 62 is a screw-threaded sleeve 63 which has threaded engagement with the two disks 60 forming the sides or the reel.

By turning the disks or heads 60 on the brake or retarding member tending to hold the reel against rotation while allowing it to;

; lies the position and: tension of the spring.

To aaflzord access. to. the interior for the purpose of removing used tape and replacing; new rolls of tape, the end of the shell surrounding the tape-feeding and winding mechanism is, made in sections, as already explained. The smaller remo-vable section 20 shown in Fig. 7, is provided with. an inwardly projecting ear or lug 2, and in the transverse arm 551' there is mounted a slidebolt 2 which, when moved toward the right v (Fig. 1) interlocksv with the ear- 2 to prevent it from opening: and which when moved toward the left, in Figure 1 passes through a. recess 3? in the revolving head 3 and enters or penetrates a corresponding re cess formed in the stationary cam disk 32. In: short, in one position of adjustment the looking bolt 2 locks the open or pivoted section 2 in closed or operative position and this section can not be opened to gain access to the interior until the bolt 2 has. been shifted into position to lock the drum against, revolution. In this way all pos sibility of accidental revolution of the drum, when, the door tube is open,,. is prevented. As shown in Figure 7; the movable section 2 is pivoted at 2 to, the main frame of the. drum to, allow it to swing openand shut.

The. end, of, the OppQSitQ: the stamptraneferring nae.0.lnniisrn, is supported by means of a hollow sl iaft; 9.0, which passes through the center of the spider 9 and of the spider 4,. and. is supported in a suitable bearing bracket, indicated at. dotted lines at the right of Figure 1., A bracket 9,2 attached to said bearing carries a, set screw 93 which can be; set tightly against the inserted end of the stationary spindle 811 to prevent its rotae tion. As shown in Figures 3 and 1.1 the sprocket wheels; 82 are mounted on an adjustable plate 82 which is, secured to the spider t by means; of abolt and slot engagement.

What. I claim 1. In a yard-marking machine, the coin. bination of a revol-uble drum adapted to r0.-v tate; in unison. with the travel of a. piece of cloth passing over its periphery in order to measure the, length. of the cloth, and yardmarkingmeans comprising feeding means for feeding a progressive series of numerals composed of transfer stamps in consecutive order into; proximity to the- Cloth,v and stampptransferring' means coordinated with the rearolving drum to transfer said stamps successively to the precise points; of the cloth corresponding to the distance from the initial end thereof indicated byathe stamped numeral being transferred whereby the th is marked with. yardage measureme ts; at desired; intervals, throughout: it eng h. substantially as described.

2. In a yard ma-rking machine, the com.- bination of a drum adapted to rotate in uni-v sonwith thetravel of a: piece of cloth pass ing; over its; periphery in order to measure. the length thereofand yard-marking means. carried by and revolving-with the drum ema bracing a prcsser, means for feeding a se-. ries of transfer stamps comprising progress sive yard-indicating. numerals between the, cloth. and the presser, and means for actuating said presser to. transfer the stamps snc cessivel-y to, the cloth at predetermined intervals corresponding to. the distance from the initial end of the cloth of each; such marked portion, substantially as described.

3'. In a yard-marking machine, the combination of a measuring drum rotatable in unison with the travel of cloth passing over;

its. periphery, stamp-transferring means embracing opposed; cooperating members rervolving with the drum, actuating means operated by the revolution of the drum to operate said transferring means to trans fer yard-numbering stamps at predetermined intervals on the cloth, and coacting mechanism for feeding yard numbering stamps one after another between said op.- posed transfer, members, substantially as described.

4;. In a yard n arking machine the COD} bination of a. measuring drum rota-table in unison with the travel of cloth passing overits. periphery, stainprtransferring mechanism embracing a heated presser and a cooperating pressure sustaining member and actuatin g ineanstherefor operated at predetermined intervals inthe revolution of the drum, transfer stamp. feeding, means for feeding an appropriate, transfer stamp to, transfer posi tion between the, heated presser and the traveling cloth before each pressing movement of the; hot presser in order to yard number the cloth substantially as. described.

5. In a yard-marking machine the combinat-ion, of a measuring drum rotatable in unison with the travel of cloth passing over its periphery, stamptransferring mechanism embracing two. cooperating pressing members, and their actuating mechanism carried by and revolving with the'drum, said actuating mechanism being provided with adjustments by which it can be caused to act with any desired frequency relative to, a complete revolution of the drum, and means for feeding transfer stamps to the transfer mechanism saidfeeding means being also. provided with adjustments tocause it to. feed with corresponding frequency, substantially as described.

6. In a yard-numbering machine. theconr bination of a revolinble cl'oth measuring drum, transfer stamps supplying and feeding mechanism mounted inside the drum and revolving therewith, a stationary cam supported adjacent to said feeding mechanism to engage and cause actuation of said feeding mechanism at any desired frequency as the drum revolves, and stamp transfer mechanism embracing a pair of opposed pressing elements arranged to hot press an interposed stamp against an interposed portion of the cloth at any desired stage in the drum revolution in order to yard number the cloth, substantially as described.

7. In a yard-numbering machine, the combination of a revoluble drum, stamp-carrying and feeding mechanism operable to any desired points in the revolution of the drum through engagement with a cooperating controlling cam not revolving with the drum, and stamp-transferring mechanism revolving with the drum and operable to transfer the successively fed stamps to the fabric as the drum revolves in order to yard number the cloth at desired intervals, substan tially as described.

8. In a yard-numbering machine, the combination with a revoluble cloth-measuring orum. means for feeding a tape-strip carrying yard numbering stamps arranged in consecutive order at any desired intervals thereon to proper transfer relation to the cloth traveling over the drum eriphery, said feed ing means being intermittently actuated by the revolution of the drum and having adjustment by which the frequency of the feeding movement and the distance that it feeds may be varied, and a coordinated transfer mechanism carried by and revolving with the drum to hot press each stamp on the cloth at appropriate intervals, substantially as described.

9. In a yard-numbering machine, the combination of a revoluble cloth-measuring drum comprising a peripheral shell and an interior supporting frame embracing interior heads and longitudinal connecting rods, a stamp-tape carrying reel and tape feeding mechanism secured to the supporting frame and having operative connection with an externally supported actuating member, means mounted on said interior frame for hot pressing the stamps on said tape at ap propriate intervals on the cloth, said shell being provided with a removable section nor mally locked in operative position, substantially as described.

10. In a yard-numbering machine, the combination of a revoluble cloth measuring drum comprising a setional peripheral shell and an interior supporting frame one section of which is releasably locked in normal operative position, stamp-feeding and stamptransferring mechanism operatively mounted on the interior frame, and locking means operable to lock the releasable section in normal closed position and to lock the drum against rotation when the releasable section is open, substantially as described.

11. In a yard-numbering machine, the combination of a revoluble cloth measuring drum comprising a sectional peripheral shell and an interior supporting frame one section of which is releasably locked in normal operative position, stamp-feeding and stamp-transferring mechanism operatively mounted on the interior frame, and a locking bolt movable one way to release the release section and lock the drum in order to allow access to the interior and acting when moved the other way to release the drum and lock the section in closed position, substantially as described.

12. In a yard-numbering machine, the combination of a revoluble cloth-measuring drum. a rotatable reel for supporting a transfer-stamp tape, feed rolls for drawing off from said. reel predetermined uniform lengths of tape, a winding reel for taking up and winding on the tape after it has passed the feed rolls, and a transfer mechanism for intermittently pressing the stamped portion of the tape against cloth, travelin over the drum periphery, the movement of said feed rolls and said reel being correlated to the rotation of said cloth measuring drum, substantially as described.

13. In a yard numbering machine, the combination with a revoluble cloth-measuring drum, means for intermittently hot pressing a consecutive series of transfer stamps on a carrier tape onto said cloth, tape feeding means embracing feed rolls adapted to draw predetermined lengths of tape across said hotpresser to expose successive stamps to the transfer action of said presser, a frictionally driven winding reel for winding up the used portion of the tape, said winding reel and said feed rolls being driven from a common actuating element in coordination with said drum, substantially as described.

14:. In' a yard measuring and numbering machine having a revoluble measuring drum and. means for transferring yard numbers from a transfer tape to the cloth at predetermined intervals, tape-feeding means embracing in combination with feed rolls, intermittently driven by the revolution of the cloth measuring drum, a revoluble tapecarrying reel arranged to deliver the tape to the feed rolls, and a frictionally driven takeup reel for keeping taut and winding on that portion of the tape from which the stamps have been transferred to the cloth, and means carried by said winding reel to strip off the tightly wound tape therefrom in order to permit attachment of another tape thereto, substantially as described.

15. In a yard numbering machine, the combination. of a revoluble cloth-measuring drum, means for feeding a transfenstamp carrier tape into position for transfer to predetermined portions of the cloth traveling over the drum periphery, stamp-transferring devices arranged to hot press the successive stamps on the tape onto the cloth, and actuating mechanism for the stamp transfer device embracing a cam and a cam actuating element provided With a series of adjustable cam-engaging and'moving mem bers by which the cam is intermittently moved at predetermined but variable intervals, substantially as described.

16. In a yard numbering machine, the combination of a revoluble cloth-measuring drum, feeding mechanism for feeding a series of yard-numbering transfer stamps in position for transfer to the cloth being measured, transfer mechanism embracing inner and outer presser members mounted to move together to hot press a stamp onto the interposed portion of the cloth traveling over the drum periphery, the outer member being movable after each pressing operation away from its position overhanging the cloth, and means dependent on the revolution of the drum to actuate said pressers, substantially as described.

17. In a yard numbering machine, the combination of a revoluble cloth-measuring drum, feeding mechanism for feeding a series of yard-numbering transfer stamps into position for transfer to the cloth being measured, transfer mechanism embracing inner and outer presser members for pressing the successive stamps onto appropriate portions of the cloth traveling thereon, and actuating mechanism for intermittently operating the inner presser in coordination with the revolution of the drum the outer member being simultaneously moved from idle to pressing position by an intermediate connection with the movable inner member, substantially as described.

18. In a yard numbering machine, the combination of a revoluble cloth-measuring drum, interiorly disposed chain-driven stamp-transfer mechanism for hot pressing yard numbering transfer stamps onto predetermined portions of the cloth traveling over the drum periphery and interiorly disposed coordinated chain driven mechanism for feeding successive yard-numbering transfer stamps to position to be acted upon by said transfer mechanisms, both chaindriven mechanisms being actuated by the revolution of the drum, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

CHARLES G. RICHARDSON. 

